U.S. patent number 10,297,019 [Application Number 15/884,256] was granted by the patent office on 2019-05-21 for remote pharmaceutical verification.
This patent grant is currently assigned to PERCEPTIMED, INC.. The grantee listed for this patent is PerceptiMed, Inc.. Invention is credited to Alan Jacobs, Jennifer Jacobs, Yana Nikitina.
United States Patent |
10,297,019 |
Jacobs , et al. |
May 21, 2019 |
Remote pharmaceutical verification
Abstract
A pill verification system obtains a prescription filled at a
pharmacy and gathers information of the pills being dispensed for a
remote pharmacist to verify the prescription. As pills are
dispensed to a pill vial to fill the prescription, a pill imaging
system captures images of the pills, and a pill vial imaging system
captures an image of the pill vial. The prescription, pill images,
and pill vial image are transmitted to a remote verification
system. A pharmacist is presented with the prescription, images of
substantially all pills filling the prescription, and the pill vial
of the prescription to verify the prescription is correct. The
remote verification system may present prescriptions filled from
many different pharmacies, permitting increased rate of
verification and one pharmacist to support many pharmacies. The
pharmacist's verification is transmitted to the pill verification
system and displayed for a technician to complete verification of
the pills.
Inventors: |
Jacobs; Alan (Palo Alto,
CA), Jacobs; Jennifer (Palo Alto, CA), Nikitina; Yana
(San Francisco, CA) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
PerceptiMed, Inc. |
Mountain View |
CA |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
PERCEPTIMED, INC. (Mountain
View, CA)
|
Family
ID: |
52461973 |
Appl.
No.: |
15/884,256 |
Filed: |
January 30, 2018 |
Prior Publication Data
|
|
|
|
Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20180225818 A1 |
Aug 9, 2018 |
|
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
|
14905281 |
|
9886751 |
|
|
|
PCT/US2014/050440 |
Aug 8, 2014 |
|
|
|
|
61864456 |
Aug 9, 2013 |
|
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61J
7/0076 (20130101); G06K 9/00 (20130101); G06T
7/0004 (20130101); A61J 2205/00 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G06K
9/00 (20060101); A61J 7/00 (20060101); G06T
7/00 (20170101) |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
103025301 |
|
Apr 2013 |
|
CN |
|
2003517335 |
|
May 2003 |
|
JP |
|
2012161510 |
|
Aug 2012 |
|
JP |
|
2013529095 |
|
Jul 2013 |
|
JP |
|
WO 00/06078 |
|
Feb 2000 |
|
WO |
|
WO 2011/112606 |
|
Sep 2011 |
|
WO |
|
WO 2012/056317 |
|
May 2012 |
|
WO |
|
WO 2013/112591 |
|
Aug 2013 |
|
WO |
|
Other References
Chinese First Office Action, Chinese Application No.
201480044292.7, dated Jul. 23, 2018, 16 pages (with concise
explanation of relevance). cited by applicant .
Canadian Office Action, Canadian Application No. 2,920,349, dated
Oct. 17, 2016, 6 pages. cited by applicant .
Patent Cooperation Treaty, International Search Report and Written
Opinion of the International Searching Authority, International
Patent Application No. PCT/US2014/050440, dated Nov. 25, 2014, 15
Pages. cited by applicant .
U.S. Appl. No. 61/589,750, filed Jan. 23, 2012, Inventors: E.
Gershtein et al. cited by applicant .
Canadian Office Action, Canadian Application No. 2,920,349, dated
Jun. 28, 2017, 3 pages. cited by applicant .
European Extended Search Report, European Application No.
14834230.6, dated Jun. 30, 2017, 15 pages. cited by applicant .
European Supplementary Search Report, European Application No.
14834230.6, dated Mar. 3, 2017, 7 pages. cited by applicant .
Australian First Examination Report, Australian Application No.
2014306320, dated Oct. 30, 2017, 3 pages. cited by applicant .
United States Office Action, U.S. Appl. No. 14/905,281, dated Mar.
20, 2017, 12 pages. cited by applicant .
Japanese Office Action, Japanese Application No. 2016-533482, dated
Feb. 20, 2018, 8 pages. cited by applicant .
Australian Second Examination Report, Australian Application No.
2014306320, dated Mar. 23, 2018, 3 pages. cited by applicant .
European Examination Report, European Application No. 14834230.6,
dated May 9, 2018, 5 pages. cited by applicant.
|
Primary Examiner: Alavi; Amir
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Fenwick & West LLP
Parent Case Text
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser.
No. 14/905,281, filed on Jan. 14, 2016, which is a national stage
entry of PCT Application Serial No. PCT/US2014/050440, filed Aug.
8, 2014, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application
No. 61/864,456, filed Aug. 9, 2013, each of which is incorporated
by reference in its entirety for all purposes, including any
appendices and attachments thereof.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A method for remote verification of a filled prescription, the
method comprising: receiving pill verification information from a
pill verification system of at least one pill filling a
prescription, the pill verification information comprising at least
one image of the at least one pill filling the prescription;
displaying the pill verification information on a display, wherein
the display enables a user to review the pill verification
information including at least one image of the at least one pill
filling the prescription; receiving a response to the pill
verification information from an interface, the response accepting
or rejecting the filled prescription; and transmitting the response
to a prescription filling location.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the pill verification information
further comprises at least one of the following: an indication from
the pill verification system regarding whether one or more pills of
the filled prescription matches a pharmaceutical composition of the
prescription, a quantity of pills in the filled prescription, and
verification information of substantially all of the at least one
pill filling the prescription.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the pill verification
information on the display comprises displaying a gallery of
images, wherein each image corresponds to at least one pill of a
plurality of pills of the filled prescription.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein each image includes corresponding
verification information, wherein the display is configured to
highlight an image in the gallery when the verification information
indicates a mismatch between the pill in the image and a
pharmaceutical composition of the prescription.
5. The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving
prescription information for the prescription to be dispensed to a
patient; and displaying the prescription information on the
display.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein the prescription information
comprises one or more of the following: a pharmaceutical
prescription written by a medical practitioner, a quantity of pills
in the filled prescription, a pharmaceutical composition of the at
least one pill, a dosage of the at least one pill, a manufacturer
of the at least one pill, and patient instructions for
administering the filled prescription.
7. The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving pill vial
information comprising one or more of the following: an image of a
pill vial depicting a label on the pill vial, a verification of the
label on the pill vial from a label verification system, and a
label to be printed for the pill vial; and displaying the pill vial
information on the display.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein the image of the pill vial
comprises a landscape view of the pill vial.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one image comprises
a circumferential view of the at least one pill.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein the pill verification
information comprises a plurality of images including several views
of the at least one pill.
11. The method of claim 1, wherein the display includes a queue of
a plurality of filled prescriptions to be verified.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein the plurality of prescriptions
are filled at different pharmacies.
13. The method of claim 1, further comprising: retaining a pill
vial containing the filled prescription; and releasing the pill
vial in response to receiving a response accepting the filled
prescription.
14. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising
instructions that when executed by a processor cause the processor
to perform steps of: receiving pill verification information from a
pill verification system of at least one pill filling a
prescription, the pill verification information comprising at least
one image of the at least one pill filling the prescription;
displaying the pill verification information on a display, wherein
the display enables a user to review the pill verification
information including at least one image of the at least one pill
filling the prescription; receiving a response to the pill
verification information from an interface, the response accepting
or rejecting the filled prescription; and transmitting the response
to a prescription filling location.
15. The computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein displaying
the pill verification information on the display comprises
displaying a gallery of images, wherein each image corresponds to
at least one pill of a plurality of pills of the filled
prescription.
16. The computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein each image
includes corresponding verification information, wherein the
display is configured to highlight an image in the gallery when the
verification information indicates a mismatch between the pill in
the image and a pharmaceutical composition of the prescription.
17. The method of claim 14, wherein the pill verification
information comprises a plurality of images including several views
of the at least one pill.
18. The method of claim 14, wherein the display includes a queue of
a plurality of filled prescriptions to be verified.
19. The method of claim 18, wherein the plurality of prescriptions
are filled at different pharmacies.
20. The method of claim 14, wherein the instructions further cause
the processor to perform the steps of: retaining a pill vial
containing the filled prescription; and releasing the pill vial in
response to receiving a response accepting the filled prescription.
Description
BACKGROUND
This invention relates generally to verification of filled
pharmaceutical prescriptions, and more specifically to verification
of filled pharmaceutical prescriptions remotely from the location
where the prescription is filled.
Pharmaceutical prescriptions are ordered by medical practitioners
to designate specific pills and other medicines for a patient. The
medical practitioner typically writes the prescription, either by
hand or electronically, and the prescription is transmitted to the
pharmacy. At the pharmacy, the prescription is filled and a
pharmacist on-site physically verifies that the prescription
written by the medical practitioner matches the pills actually
dispensed into a vial or other container. To verify the pills, the
pharmacist reviews a label on the vial and reviews the pills
actually dispensed into the vial. Any errors, including dispensing
a wrong pill or a labeling error, can be dangerous for a patient.
However, having a pharmacist on-site at each pharmacy physically
reviewing pills is expensive, significantly increasing operating
costs for a pharmacy, and often prohibiting a pharmacy from opening
in areas that either lack a pharmacist or financially cannot
justify opening a pharmacy.
SUMMARY
A pill verification system enables a pharmacist to verify a
prescription at a remote location separate from the location where
the prescription is filled. The pill verification system receives a
prescription from a medical practitioner. The prescription is
electronically entered to identify prescription information
describing the prescription, such as particular pharmaceutical
formulations, dosages, and so forth is termed prescription
information. When the prescription is filled in the pharmacy, a
pill verification system collects verification information for the
pills in the pill vial filled for that prescription. The
verification information is information sufficient to uniquely
identify a pill, for example images of pills filling the vial, a
machine verification of the pills, spectrometer data, pill weight,
and so forth. The verification information may include one or more
images of each pill in the pill vial, one or more images of groups
of pills in the pill vial, or a pill verification from a pill
verification system that verified each pill in the pill vial is
consistent with the prescription information. Images of an
individual pill may include images of the pill from multiple views,
or may include an image of a circumferential view of the pill. In
addition, label information including an image of the label of the
filled pill vial or a label verification from a label verification
system, is captured. In one embodiment, the label information is
information for a label to be printed and affixed to the pill vial
rather than a label already affixed to the pill vial. The pill
verification system transmits this information (prescription
information, verification information, and label information) to a
pharmacist at a remote verification system for final review and
approval.
The remote verification system displays this information to the
pharmacist. The pharmacist reviews the prescription, the
verification information, and the label information to verify the
prescription has been properly filled. The pharmacist in one
embodiment is provided the label image and images of each pill that
filled the prescription. The pharmacist's verification is logged by
the remote verification system and returned to the pill
verification system where the prescription is filled. The pill
verification system displays the verification result from the
pharmacist and provides the result to a pharmacy technician. The
pill verification system in one embodiment securely holds the pill
vial until a verification result has been received. The pharmacy
technician at the pharmacy may then place the verified filled
prescription in a holding area or may dispense the prescription to
the patient.
In one embodiment, the pill verification system incorporates a pill
imaging system that captures images of pills filling a pill vial,
along with a pill vial imaging system. In this embodiment, the pill
verification system captures images of the pills filling the vial
along with the image of the pill vial itself, and may perform
related verification of the pills or the pill vial. The pill
verification system in this embodiment provides the prescription,
pill verification information, and label information to the remote
verification system and displays a verification result received
from the remote verification system.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 illustrates a workflow using systems and methods for
verification of pills according to one embodiment.
FIG. 2 shows a display for pharmacist review of the filled
prescription order according to one embodiment.
FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of a pill verification system separate
from the pill imaging and pill vial imaging systems.
FIG. 4 shows components of a verification system according to one
embodiment.
The figures depict various embodiments of the present invention for
purposes of illustration only. One skilled in the art will readily
recognize from the following discussion that alternative
embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be
employed without departing from the principles of the invention
described herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Overview
FIG. 1 illustrates a workflow using systems and methods for
verification of pills according to one embodiment. Initially, a
pharmacy receives a prescription 100 from a medical practitioner,
such as a doctor or nurse practitioner. The prescription 100 may be
a written prescription provided by a patient, or the pharmacy may
receive the prescription 100 directly from the medical practitioner
electronically, by fax, by telephone or otherwise. The prescription
100 specifies various information about a medication to be
dispensed to the patient. Depending on the particular prescription
100, the prescription may specify a quantity, a specific
pharmaceutical composition (i.e., one or more specific drugs and/or
dosages thereof, a specific manufacturer), instructions for the
patient to use the prescription, and other details.
The prescription is brought to or provided electronically to a
pharmacy, where the order is entered 110. The order may be entered
electronically by a medical practitioner contacting a pharmacy
directly or a pharmacy technician at the pharmacy may enter the
order 110. The order is entered into a pharmaceutical tracking
system (not shown) at the pharmacy. Some systems may themselves
auto-generate an order based on electronic prescription information
received. The pharmaceutical tracking system may also capture an
image of the prescription if the prescription was hand-written. The
electronically captured information about the prescription is
termed prescription information, which may include the specific
quantity, composition, instructions, and so forth for the
prescription, and may include an image of the written prescription
itself. The pharmaceutical tracking system stores patient and
prescription information and maintains records of prescriptions
filled at the pharmacy. When the pharmacy fills the prescription, a
pharmacy technician selects a vial for dispensing the prescription,
prints a label for the vial, attaches the label to the vial, and
obtains the desired pills for the prescription from a stock.
Prior to filling the prescription and providing a pill vial with
pharmaceuticals to the patient, the pharmacy technician loads the
pills into a pill verification system 120. The pill can be any type
or shape, including tablets, capsules, etc. The pill verification
system 120 in one embodiment receives the pills and obtains images
of each pill. One example of a pill verification system is
described in Patent Cooperation Treaty Pub. No. WO/2011/112606,
which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. In one
embodiment of a pill verification system, pills travel down a chute
and images are captured of each pill as it is moving down the chute
by cameras (e.g., four cameras in one example) at different angles
(typically orthogonal to one another) to the pill. This captures
images of the pill from multiple angles and allows a view of many
aspects of the pill for verification purposes. In one embodiment of
the pill verification system 120, the pill vial is located at the
end of the chute and collects the pills after the images are
captured. In this embodiment, the pill verification system 120
produces verification information 140 including the images of each
pill. The verification information 140 includes information
representing each pill or substantially each of the pills to be
added into the vial, and is used by a pharmacist to determine
whether the pill vial is filled with the appropriate type of
pill.
In one embodiment of the pill verification system 120, the pill
verification system 120 also performs an analysis of the pills to
determine the pill type. In this embodiment, the pill verification
system 120 also receives the prescription information to determine
whether the pill type matches the pharmaceutical composition stated
on the prescription. The pill verification system 120 may retrieve
the prescription information from the pharmaceutical tracking
system, or may read a barcode printed on the pill bottle label, or
obtain the desired pill type another way.
Using the desired pill type determined from the prescription
information, the pill verification system 120 in this embodiment
performs an automated verification of the pills. Pill verification
methods are described in U.S. Patent App. No. 61/589,750, filed
Jan. 23, 2012, and Patent Cooperation Treaty App.
PCT/US2013/022754, each of which is hereby incorporated by
reference in its entirety. To determine a pill type, the pill
verification system 120 analyzes each image of the pill to
determine a feature vector including features describing the pill,
such as color, shape, imprints on the pill, and other aspects of
the pill. The pill verification system 120 processes the feature
vectors using at least one classifier trained on a database of pill
images and associated pill types. As a result of the
classification, the pill verification system 120 determines a pill
type for the pill and whether the pill type matches the
prescription information, including whether it is the correct type
of pill and whether it is the correct dosage as stated in the
prescription information. Thus, the verification information 140
may include a pill verification indicating whether the pill
verification system 120 identified the pill images as consistent
with the prescription information. In one embodiment, the pill
verification system 120 provides verification information 140 that
includes a group of images (e.g., four images) for each pill, along
with a determination of a pill type and whether the pill type
matches the prescription. The verification information 140 may also
include a quantity of pills in the pill vial.
In another embodiment, the pill verification system 120 provides
the pill verification determined by the pill verification system
120 as the verification information, which may not include any pill
images. In this embodiment, the pill verification system 120 may
verify the type of pill using pill images as described above, or
may verify the pill type using another suitable technique.
In addition to the verification information 140, the pill
verification system 120 in one embodiment also receives label
information 130 identifying the labeling on the pill vial. To
identify the label on the pill vial, the pill vial and the label on
the pill vial are also captured as an image in one embodiment. A
pill vial imaging system captures an image of the pill vial with
the label applied to the pill vial. In other embodiments, the label
may be captured separately from the pill vial, or the pill vial
label may be automatically generated based on the prescription
information. The pill vial image is captured in one embodiment to
generate a circular "landscape" view of the pill vial, such that
the entire exterior of the pill vial may be viewed. In one
embodiment, the landscape view is captured by multiple cameras
placed around the pill vial. In this embodiment, the pill vial
imaging system combines the images from the multiple cameras into a
single landscape image. In one embodiment, rather than the pill
vial image, the label information is a label to be printed and
affixed to the pill vial.
In one embodiment, the pill vial imaging system provides a label
verification from a label verification system. The label
verification system may determine the verification of the label
using, e.g., character recognition of textual characters on the
pill, and analyze the characters to verify that the label on the
vial matches the prescription. The label verification may be
included with the label information 130. It may be preferred to
capture the pill vial image of the actual pill vial, so that after
verification of the pills, the pills may simply be added to the
appropriate (already verified) vial and sealed. In another
embodiment, the pill vial is labeled and filled with the pills that
were imaged by the pill verification system 120. In this
embodiment, after verification of the pills and the pill vial, the
pill vial can be immediately sealed after verification by the
remote pharmacist, either by a pharmacist technician or by an
automated mechanism.
To verify the contents of the pill vial and determine that the
prescription 100 ordered by the medical practitioner is
appropriately filled, one or more of the prescription 100, the pill
verification information 140, and the label information 130 are
transmitted to a remote verification system 150 for a pharmacist to
review. The pill verification system 120 manages this workflow and
process in one embodiment.
FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of a pill verification system 120
separate from the pill imaging and pill vial imaging systems. The
pill verification system 120 shown in this embodiment is a separate
computing system from the pill imaging system and is a computer
system which receives and processes pill verification information.
The verification system 120 receives the prescription information,
pill verification information 140 and label information 130 and
transmits this package to the remote verification system 150 to
display for pharmacist review. A pill imaging system 300 captures
images of pills to provide pill verification information 140 to
pill verification system 120. The pill images captured by pill
imaging system 300 may include several images of individual pills
to be added to a pill vial, as described above, and may also
perform pill verification of the pills. This verification
information 140 is transmitted from the pill imaging system 300 to
the pill verification system 120. Similarly, the pill vial imaging
system 310 obtains label information by capturing an image of the
pill vial or otherwise identifying information about the label to
be added to the pill vial for the prescription. The pill
verification system 120 also receives the prescription information
from prescription management system 320, which may include an image
of the prescription 100.
Pill verification system 120 transmits the information used for
pill verification by a pharmacist via a network 330 to remote
verification system 150. Such information in one embodiment include
the prescription, verification information associated with the
pills (e.g., pill images), and label information (e.g., a label
image). The remote verification system 150 displays the information
to a remote pharmacist, who accepts or rejects the filled
prescription.
The remote verification system 150 displays information for a
pharmacist to verify a filled prescription. The remote verification
system 150 is a computing system that includes a display and is
configured to receive pill information, display the information,
and transmit verification results input by a pharmacist to the pill
verification system 120 at the pharmacy. The remote verification
system 150 may be a display controlled remotely by the pill
verification system 120, or may include a separate computing system
with a processor and other computing components for receiving pill
information and displaying it to a pharmacist. The remote
verification system 150 receives the information transmitted by the
pill verification system 120 and manages the presentation of that
information to a pharmacist for verification. The remote
verification system and display of information to the pharmacist is
further described with respect to FIG. 2.
FIG. 4 shows components of a verification system 120 according to
one embodiment. In this embodiment, the verification system 120
includes a prescription management module 400 that receives
prescription information from the prescription management system
320, a pill vial imaging module 420 that receives pill vial
information from the pill vial imaging system 310, and a pill
imaging module 410 that receives pill verification information from
pill imaging system 300. A prescription verification module 430
collects the data received from each of these modules and transmits
the information to the remote verification system 150 for display
to the pharmacist for verification. The prescription verification
module 430 receives a verification result from the remote
verification system 150 and displays the verification result to an
operator of the pill verification system 120.
In one embodiment, the pill imaging system 300 is incorporated into
the pill verification system 120. In additional embodiments, the
pill verification system 120 maintains the pill vial during the
verification process, such that the pill verification system 120
displays the results of the verification to the pharmacy technician
or other user who is filling the prescription prior to removal of
the pill vial from the pill verification system 120.
In one embodiment, the pill verification system 120, pill vial
imaging system 310, and pill imaging system 300 are incorporated
into a single unit. In one example of this embodiment, the pill
verification system 120 receives the pill vial in a pill vial
holder and separately receives the pills to fill the prescription.
The pills are passed through a pill imager, which captures images
of the pills, and added to the pill vial. The pill vial imaging
system captures images of the pill vial before, during, or after
the pill vial is filled with the pills exiting the pill imager. The
pill verification information is transmitted to a display for
pharmacist review while the pill vial is held in the pill vial
holder. In this embodiment, the pill vial holder may be configured
to retain the pill vial until the verification is received from the
remote pharmaceutical system.
FIG. 2 shows a display for pharmacist review of the filled
prescription order according to one embodiment. The display for
pharmacist review is located remotely to a location where the pills
are selected for the pill vial and where the vial is labeled (e.g.,
the pharmacy). The display includes sufficient information for the
pharmacist to verify that the prescription does not include errors
without requiring the pharmacist to personally oversee the filled
prescription and as a result. This does not require the personal
time of a pharmacist to review prescriptions, and permits greater
throughput from a pharmacy. In addition, the display may include a
queue of prescriptions to be verified by the pharmacist, which may
be prescriptions from many different pharmacies and pill
verification systems 120.
In other embodiments, the display for pharmacist review is located
near the location where the pills are selected and the vial is
labeled. For example, the remote verification system may also be
implemented in any situation where the pharmacist does not
personally oversee the filled prescription, including a pharmacist
verifying the prescription from a separate counter or room at a
pharmacy.
As shown in the user interface displayed in FIG. 2, the interface
for pharmacist review may include several panels displaying
information about the filled prescription. The particular layout
shown in FIG. 2 is an example, and other configurations may also be
used. In addition, the display may not include all of the
components illustrated in FIG. 2, or additional components based on
the information provided by the pill verification system 120. The
pharmacist is presented with the prescription 200, which may
include an image of a hand-written prescription, or an electronic
prescription, such as entered at a prescription management system
320. The pharmacist may review the prescription 200 to verify that
the verification information about the pills and the label
information is correct. The display also includes a pill vial image
210. The pill vial image 210 displays the label information
indicating the instructions and contents of the pill vial as
described by the label on the pill vial. This permits the
pharmacist to verify the prescription has accurately been
transcribed from the prescription 200 to the pill vial and that the
instructions for the customer (as printed on the vial) are
correct.
In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the pill verification
information includes a pill verification indication 220 that the
pill verification system 120 matched the pill type of the pills to
the desired pills of the prescription. In this embodiment, the
verification information includes pill images from the pill imaging
process and a pill verification from automated analysis of the pill
images. A pill image gallery 230 is also shown to the pharmacist.
The pharmacist may review the gallery of pill images to verify that
individual pills imaged by the pill verification system 120 match
the characteristics in size, color, shape, imprint, and other
features of the pharmaceutical composition that was prescribed (or
in the case of a replacement generic, of the replacement generic).
In some embodiments, the pharmacist has access to images of all of
the pills or substantially all of the pills in the vial. In other
embodiments, the pharmacist has access to images of at least 50%,
60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 95%, 99% or other percentages of the pills in
the vial. When there are any errors in the pill type identified by
the pill verification system 120 (i.e., the identified pill type
does not match the expected pill type), any pill that did not match
may be highlighted in the gallery 230 for quick identification and
review by the pharmacist. After reviewing the pill verification
information, the pharmacist provides a verification result on an
interface 240 whether the prescription is properly filled. In one
embodiment, such as when the pill verification information does not
include pill images, the display provides the pill verification
indication 220 without the corresponding pill image gallery
230.
Using this method, the pharmacist is presented with sufficient
information to quickly and easily verify the proper filling of a
prescription. The pill verification information enables the
pharmacist to review information relating to each of the pills
added to the pill vial. When the pill type matching is available,
the pharmacist gains comfort that the pill has been verified by the
pill verification system, and when pill images are available, the
pills can be quickly reviewed by the pharmacist using the images of
the pill in the gallery 230, in particular any errors identified by
the pill verification system 120. With this system and
corresponding workflow, a pharmacist at a central location can
review and verify pills from a large number of satellite pharmacies
while maintaining high confidence of faithfully dispensing
prescriptions. In addition, a pill verification system that
incorporates a pill imaging and verification system can incorporate
the pharmacist's verification in its displayed results, providing
additional confidence in the displayed verification results.
In alternate embodiment of the remote pill verification, rather
than a pharmacist performing the remote verification, the pills are
automatically verified by another system remote from the location
where prescriptions are filled. Thus, the data received from a
local pharmacy may be presented via an interface to a
pharmaceutical validation system rather than a human pharmacist.
The interface in one example is an application programming
interface (API) to another application located at the remote
pharmacist system. The pharmaceutical validation system determines
whether the provided prescription information, validation
information, and label information is acceptable and this response
is transmitted back to the local pharmacy.
Summary
The foregoing description of the embodiments of the invention has
been presented for the purpose of illustration; it is not intended
to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms
disclosed. Persons skilled in the relevant art can appreciate that
many modifications and variations are possible in light of the
above disclosure.
Some portions of this description describe the embodiments of the
invention in terms of algorithms and symbolic representations of
operations on information. These algorithmic descriptions and
representations are commonly used by those skilled in the data
processing arts to convey the substance of their work effectively
to others skilled in the art. These operations, while described
functionally, computationally, or logically, are understood to be
implemented by computer programs or equivalent electrical circuits,
microcode, or the like. Furthermore, it has also proven convenient
at times, to refer to these arrangements of operations as modules,
without loss of generality. The described operations and their
associated modules may be embodied in software, firmware, hardware,
or any combinations thereof.
Any of the steps, operations, or processes described herein may be
performed or implemented with one or more hardware or software
modules, alone or in combination with other devices. In one
embodiment, a software module is implemented with a computer
program product comprising a computer-readable medium containing
computer program code, which can be executed by a computer
processor for performing any or all of the steps, operations, or
processes described.
Embodiments of the invention may also relate to an apparatus for
performing the operations herein. This apparatus may be specially
constructed for the required purposes, and/or it may comprise a
general-purpose computing device selectively activated or
reconfigured by a computer program stored in the computer. Such a
computer program may be stored in a non-transitory, tangible
computer readable storage medium, or any type of media suitable for
storing electronic instructions, which may be coupled to a computer
system bus. Furthermore, any computing systems referred to in the
specification may include a single processor or may be
architectures employing multiple processor designs for increased
computing capability.
Embodiments of the invention may also relate to a product that is
produced by a computing process described herein. Such a product
may comprise information resulting from a computing process, where
the information is stored on a non-transitory, tangible computer
readable storage medium and may include any embodiment of a
computer program product or other data combination described
herein.
Finally, the language used in the specification has been
principally selected for readability and instructional purposes,
and it may not have been selected to delineate or circumscribe the
inventive subject matter. It is therefore intended that the scope
of the invention be limited not by this detailed description, but
rather by any claims that issue on an application based hereon.
Accordingly, the disclosure of the embodiments of the invention is
intended to be illustrative, but not limiting, of the scope of the
invention, which is set forth in the following claims.
* * * * *